Compliance Officer
Definition: A designated individual within a nursing home or healthcare organization responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the facility's compliance program, including regulatory adherence and internal auditing.
In Practice
While not specifically required by CMS for individual nursing homes, compliance officers are increasingly common, especially in multi-facility organizations. An effective compliance program includes written standards, training, monitoring, auditing, and response protocols. Having a compliance officer demonstrates organizational commitment to regulatory adherence.